Mail-bag-catching device.



B. O'LAUGHLIN.

MAIL BAG CATCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY II. I915.

Patented May 21, 1918.

11. The upper ends of the standards 10 are BARTLEY OLAUGHLIN, OF CORAL, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BAG-CATCHING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 19 18.

Application filed May 11, 1915. Serial No. 27,395.

To all whom it may concern E Be it known that I, BARTLEY OLAUGHLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coral, in the county of Montcalm and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag-Catching Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for catching mailv bags delivered from cars in motion.

The object of this invention is to provide a mail bag catching device that is so constructed as to receive a mail bag and so retain the same as to prevent its removal therefrom and also to receive the bag in such a manner as to eficiently absorb the shock incident to the impact of the same against the device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mail ba catching device, the same comprising a rame resiliently supported and pivoted to this frame is a pair of yieldably connected lids, the means for connectin the lids receiving the mail bag and the li s being turned over to efiiciently retain the mail bag in engagement with the once.

A still further object -of this invention resides in the provision pf a device that is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and consists of a minimum number of parts.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangement of parts, 'as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved device;

Fig. 2 is a top plan Fig. 3 is a section Fig. 2.

Referring to the parts by reference numer als, supporting standards are shown, the shorter of the same being designated by the numeral 10 and the longer by the numeral view;

taken on line 3-3 of bifurcated forming grooves into which a portion of the coil springs 12 are positioned toprevent the lateral displacement of the same, these coil springs 12 are secured to the post 10 by means of the bolts 13. Coil springs 14 are carried by the higher stand- 1 by means of the bolts 15, that pass is clearly shown in ards therethrough, and as sides, bars 16.

invention without departing Fig. 1, the same are so disposed as to engage the mail bag catching device and retain that end which the same are connected with in substantially the same plane as the height of the standards 10. The mail bag catcher comprises a rectangular frame 15, the same having secured adjacent its longitudinal Lids 17 are hingedly secured to the bars 16 by means of the eyes 18 embracing the said bars,-thc said lids having a netting 19 carried thereby and abutment portions 20 at certain ends thereof. A plurality of coil springs 21 are secured to the longitudinally extending portions of the lids 17 and as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these coil springs span the frame when the device is in a position to receive a mail sack, the lids thereof being positioned against the longitudinal portions 23 of the frame, the longitudinal portions thereof being positioned in a higher plane than the rods 16.

This device is placed adjacent the track and with the post 11 nearest thereto and is normally in a position as shown in the accompanying drawings, however, when the mail sack is delivered on the coil springs 21, the weight of the sack will move the coil springs 21 downwardly between the rods 16 and thus move the lids 17 to a closed position or, in other words, until the abutments 20 engage the frame 15. The position that the device would then assume is indicated in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the coil springs 18 will conform to the shape of the mail bag and the weight of the bag will retain the lids in a closed position with the abutments 21 restin on the frame 15. After the mail bag has %een removed from the springs. the said springs will assume their normal position, that as shown in the accompanying drawings and the lids 17 will be moved so as tudinal portions of the frame 15.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of this from thg material parts thereof. It is therefore not wished to confine the invention to the enact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mail bag catcher, a resiliently supported frame, a pair of lids hingedly secured to said frame, resilient means conto rest against the long1- neeting said lids for receivin a mail sack whereby when a mall sack 15 p aced thereon,

said lids will be moved to a closed position to revent the accidental removal of said mall sack.

2. In a mall sack catching device, a resiliently supported frame provided with hingedly secured lids having abutments formed thereon and means connecting said gagement with the longitudinal portions of said frame and providin means for the receiving of a mail sack w ereby the sack by its weight moves said lids to a closed position and prevents the accidental removal of the sack therefrom.

4. In a device for catching mail sacks, a frame means for receiving a mail sack on said frame, supporting standards, springs connecting said frame to said supporting standards and means independently of the securing means on certain of said supporting standards for the reception of said,

springs to prevent the lateral displacement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BARTLEY OLAUGHLIN.

lVitnesses:

'JUDD WARNOCK, CARL F. HANSEN. 

